Clean sweep of what Broome offers

RED desert, spectacular white sandy beaches and bright blue skies make the historic pearling town an enviable destination.

Cable beach Broome escape

RED desert, spectacular white sandy beaches and clear blue skies. Combine the three and you have found one of Australia's most beautiful destinations.

Broome is a tropical haven that many Aussies probably don't consider to visit, given its remote location in the top end of Western Australia.

Flying into Broome holidaymakers will get a terrific glimpse of the beauty they are about to experience.

Consistent daily temperatures of high 20s or low 30s during the dry season (May-October) makes a splash at Cable Beach a daily ritual.

Broome is the gateway to the remote Kimberley region and made its mark by producing the world's best pearls.

With a permanent population of about 14,000 people it swells to more than 45,000 during peak season, but despite being a fairly small place there's still plenty to do.

On arrival the first thing every tourist should do is visit Cable Beach. Its beauty speaks for itself and is a perfect place to relax once settled in.

Many tourists choose to stay at Cable Beach which is about a 10-minute drive from the heart of town.

When it comes to choosing accommodation, the award-winning Cable Beach Club Resort is an easy choice because it has the best location; a minute's walk to the beach.

Mind you it's expensive; rooms start from about $400 a night, but you will soon see why with top-notch facilities which make it appealing for tourists as they have everything at their fingertips.

The resort has two pools, one for "adults only'' and another for those with children. So if you are travelling without kids you can be sure to relax by the pool in peace and quiet, which kidless couples often don't find on holiday.

There are three restaurants at the resort, including the Thai Pearl which has an array of mouth-watering Asian cuisine. There is also the Sunset Bar and Grill which is your more casual dining with a la carte and a bar menu.

This is a great spot to settle in about 5pm each day, just before sunset.

You need to get in early because the tables and chairs are quickly filled by dozens of people who flock to the bar to watch the sun go down.

And to cap it all off, the camels which are seen carrying tourists as they walk along the beach in the morning and on sunset, will stroll just metres past the bar.

But the very best restaurant at the resort is undoubtedly the Club Restaurant, which serves the freshest local cuisine including pearl meat and barramundi.

It also has plenty of facilities to keep you entertained including tennis courts and mini golf. If you do choose to stay here opt for a second-level room, because the ground floor rooms do hear noise from above with the floorboards sometimes making it not as peaceful as you would hope while on holiday.

At Cable Beach there's plenty of accommodation from backpacker hostels through to plush hotels, most of them just a short walk to Cable Beach.

While in Broome make sure you take a trip to the world's oldest operating open-air pictures gardens in the centre of town. This will be a special experience but be sure to wear warm clothes because it does get cool at night.

The town has plenty of history too and it's worth visiting the Broome Historical Society Museum which will help gather a more thorough insight into just how Broome came to life.

Chinatown in the town's centre is also a busy hub, the streets are filled with pearl shops if you're looking to buy a treasure or two.

Another great spot to stop off is at the port, it's just a short drive out of town.

The deep-water jetty is a popular spot for patient fishermen and there's good reason why, the catches are delicious.

And that's why you should taste the local cuisine at the Wharf Restaurant which serves some of the freshest oysters in town.

On weekends Broome Courthouse is a bustling area with the popular markets every Saturday.

There are plenty of local arts and crafts and food stalls dotted around the courthouse. You will also notice visitors to Broome flock to the see the Staircase To The Moon. This is an eye-catching natural phenomenon which is created when the full moon reflects on exposed mudflats at extremely low tide. That, in turn, forms a magical "staircase'' seemingly reaching to the moon.

It's best to check on arrival to see when it's happening because it only occurs a few times a month.

A great spot to view it is a Roebuck Bay, but locals will fill you in on the spots to get the best glimpse.

Many tourists also pay a visit to the Willie Creek Pearl Farm where you will get a great insight into the pearling industry. The farm is almost 40km out of town and bus tours are available.

The pearl farm will help you understand the detailed process of pearling and is a truly great day trip.

Kayaking along Turtle Bay at Cable Beach is also a popular activity for couples or families. Operating at morning and on sunset, the latter will allow you to enjoy the beauty of Cable Beach while on the water so you can view the wildlife and sea creatures.

Then, as you paddle back to shore watching the sun go down, you will be reminded again of just why Broome is such a special place.

-- Go2

- BROOME, WA

- Going there

Both Qantas and Virgin offer flights to Broome.

- Doing there

It's too far to walk from Cable Beach into Broome, but there is a regular bus service which runs every 30 minutes during peak season and loops around most of the spots to visit and it's quite cheap.

- Eating there

If you feel like a quiet beer, be sure to visit Matso's, Broome's very-own brewery which has a range of refreshing hand-crafted beers, including their famous mango and ginger beers. There is also a curry hut on site so you can tuck into some authentic Indian cuisines while enjoying a brew or two.

- More

To discover more things to do in Broome and accommodation options, visit www.western australia.com.au